Individual,

Of course not. If someone is able-bodied, and free to work, and there is work in the neighbourhood, then they should be taken off welfare and given the address.

It used to be that way forty and fifty years ago. Currently, horticulturalists in the North can't get enough fruit-pickers: they need many thousands, otherwise fruit will just rot.

Welfare payment is surely a conditional right, only available if there is no alternative ? If there is work available, then people do it, if only to get some cself-respect.

Joe

Mr O,

Outside of Australia's Indigenous people, we are all
immigrants, or descendants of immigrants - some earlier
than others - but all with an experience of immigration
during the foundation of modern Australia.

Australia is part of the New World, the world of immigrants.
Not part of the Old World or the places they embarked from.
This is why we are suspicious of inherited titles and
privileges. Nobody can afford to be too precious about
their position or entitlements in this country because
we know that here position and entitlements are
comparatively new.

Foxy,

Whoopee!

Mr O,

I expected more from you - is a whoopee
cushion the best you can do?

Indy, I'm totally in favour of sustainable welfare. No one in their right mind supports welfare for welfare's sake. The need for a safety net for the vulnerable in society is recognised by all major political parties. Using the buzz word of today in these unprecedented times the conservatives have engaged in the biggest splash of both corporate and individual welfare this country has ever seen. Has it been well implemented, is it totally justified, well that is certainly open to question.

I have a shot at you, because of your hypocritical attitude towards others on welfare, when you are clearly a welfare recipient yourself within the meaning of the Aged Pension. Yet through some superfluous argument of denial you claim not to be in the same category as others, claiming to be a cut above, no you're not.

Is Mise,

the makeup of ethnicity of the First Fleet Is fascinating. Thanks for pointing that out.

As for multiculturalism, time will tell how well Australia fares in coming decades given that Australia was largely European until more recent times.